Mukilab said:Why are quantum fluctuations amplified when viewed on a smaller scale?
I read about this in 'elegant universe' but the book never answered my question.
Mukilab said:The way the book explained it, it sounded like the waves actually became more energetic when viewed on a smaller scale.
A. Neumaier said:This is a misunderstanding. On smaller scales, waves have a smaller wavelength lambda, hence a larger frequency omega = 2 pi/lambda, and hence are resolvable only with larger energies of the order of E = omega hbar.
This is why one needs huge accelerators to discover news at the smallest scales.
Books for laymen are often inaccurate, bordering sometimes on incorrectness.Mukilab said:So was the book incorrect?
Frequency and wavelength are inverse proportional, so this question doesn't make sense.Mukilab said:Would the increase in frequency be larger than the decrease in wavelength, creating a need for more energy overall?
Quantum fluctuations refer to the inherent uncertainty and unpredictability of the behavior of particles on a subatomic level. On a smaller scale, such as the scale of individual particles, these fluctuations become more apparent and amplified due to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
The Heisenberg uncertainty principle states that it is impossible to know both the position and momentum of a particle with absolute certainty. This means that on a smaller scale, the fluctuations in the position and momentum of particles become more significant and contribute to the amplification of quantum fluctuations.
No, quantum fluctuations cannot be observed directly. They can only be inferred through their effects on the behavior of particles on a smaller scale. This is because the act of observation itself can alter the behavior of particles, making it impossible to measure their exact state.
No, quantum fluctuations are not a result of measurement errors. They are a fundamental property of the quantum world and are essential for our understanding of particle behavior on a subatomic level.
Quantum fluctuations play a crucial role in our understanding of the behavior of particles and the laws of physics on a smaller scale. They also have implications for the larger universe, as they contribute to phenomena such as the uncertainty of the position and momentum of particles in the early universe, which can shape the evolution of the universe as a whole.